2024
CNC lathe - RetroFit
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At a glance
CNC lathe - RetroFit
Restoring a school-owned CNC lathe and finding a path to modern CAM.
- Improvisation
- Old does not equal trash
- Side project
Project
GRBL • Electronics • Improvisation • 2017

The engraver was built from salvaged optical-drive mechanics, which made it an affordable way to learn how stepper motion, guides, backlash, and frame stiffness interact.
It was not about creating a production machine. It was about making a limited set of parts move predictably enough to engrave, while learning from every step.
The controller side introduced me to GRBL-style motion control, wiring, and the practical side of building CNC systems.
As an early project, it became a useful foundation for later CNC and machining work.